“Visa liberalisation, this year” (Zëri)
Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Çollaku, said in an interview for the paper that Kosovo needs to ratify the border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro as the final criteria for visa liberalisation. “Now is the time for clarity and we must acknowledge that this is a condition set by the European Union and as such it cannot be ignored,” he was quoted as saying. Çollaku also said that the Kosovo Assembly and political parties need to decide on the time and way they will adopt the border-demarcation agreement, “so that we don’t create space for any EU member state to oppose visa liberalisation for Kosovo’s citizens”. Çollaku also said he is confident that Kosovo will get visa liberalisation this year.
Nuland coming to Kosovo to discuss border demarcation on 10 July (Epoka)
The political stalemate in Kosovo for almost a year, due to the demarcation of the border with Montenegro, is expected to bring in Kosovo Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State, Victoria Nuland. The U.S. State Department assessed last year that the borderline with Montenegro is in accordance with the Constitution of 1974 and the Ahtisaari’s Package, however the government and opposition continue to disagree on the issue.
Kosovo says Montenegro’s reaction was hasty (Koha)
Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a media communique on Thursday saying it has received a note of protest from the Montenegrin government about a recent “provocative” behaviour at the border between Kosovo and Montenegro. Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the reaction from Podgorica was hasty and that there is no reason for relations between the two countries to change. The Ministry said Kosovo will continue to foster excellent relations with Montenegro and that such cases will not threaten relations. “Everything will be done in the spirit of cooperation and open dialogue,” the Ministry said in its response. The paper recalls that Montenegro sent a note of protest after several Vetevendosje MPs placed the flag of Albania and signs saying “The Republic of Kosovo” and “Welcome” inside Montenegrin territory.
Hoxhaj: Two countries on the verge of recognizing Kosovo (Epoka)
Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Enver Hoxhaj told the paper on Thursday that increase of the number of recognitions remains a priority. He announced that two countries are on the verge of recognizing the independence of Kosovo. He assessed that Kosovo does not stand in a bad position with regard to membership in international organizations either. Speaking about Kosovo’s dialogue with Serbia, Hoxhaj said that the process should continue however he stressed that the implementation of the reached agreements should be in the focus. Speaking about terrorism, Hoxhaj said that there is no safe country at the moment, but that Kosovo is safer than many other countries,.
UN mechanisms contest statehood by using Kosovo* (Koha)
In its leading front-page story, the paper reports that “the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes have started applying a new communications strategy to the detriment of Kosovo”. The paper notes that UN mechanisms in Kosovo have added an asterisk to the names of their offices, including the footnote that focuses on UNSC Resolution 1244. Some of the examples are: “UNDP Kosovo*”, UNHCR Kosovo*”, “UNICEF in Kosovo*”. “They haven’t done this only in written documents, but also on webpages and on social media accounts. This new communications strategy has an impact on Kosovo’s international image. State authorities however have not reacted to the matter. The [Kosovo] government in fact this month has provided financial support to the projects of these UN mechanisms,” the paper further reports.
Laws on EULEX’s mandate in power (Epoka)
The Mission of the European Union for the Rule of Law in Kosovo, EULEX, can continue with its work, where it stopped on 14 June, being that the laws that allow the mission to have a mandate in Kosovo, in the field of the rule of law until 2018, are now in power. Kosovo leaders reconfirmed on Thursday that they are ready to cooperate with EULEX. According to Kosova Sot, EULEX will be dealing with 100 already initiated case, while when new cases are concerned, EULEX will be taking them only in extraordinary cases.
Kosovo steps up security measures (Epoka)
Terrorist attacks in Istanbul have forced the Kosovo Police to step up security measures throughout the country. In order to provide a safer environment and prevent eventual incidents, these measures were undertaken also at the Pristina Airport “Adem Jashari”. The Kosovo Police information office told the daily that Kosovo is not immune towards terrorist attacks.
